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As we conclude close to a decade of involvement in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, colleges and universities are experiencing a steady increase in the enrollment of student veterans. As a result, many institutions have developed specific programs and services designed to enhance veteran success in higher education. However, recent data from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) show that only a small percentage of veterans use all of their federal education benefits; the federal government does not track veteran retention or completion rates. Some institutions of higher education have created comprehensive evaluation plans to determine the measurable outcomes of their programs, but currently most measures of success for veteran-specific programs and services are anecdotal and qualitative.
Although additional research is necessary before certain practices can be deemed "best" practices, one thing is clear: the recently enacted post-9/ 11 GI Bill is an incredibly attractive benefit for service members, veterans and their families, and we should anticipate that these populations will only continue to increase on our campuses over the next several years.
IMPORTANCE OF THE Gl BILL
The passage of the Post-9/ 11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (commonly referred to as the Post-9/11 GI Bill) was the most significant increase in education benefits for service members and veterans since the original GI Bill of 1944 - the benefit that is frequently credited with establishing the foundation of today s middle class. The original GI Bill was responsible for educating millions of scientists, doctors, engineers, businessmen, authors, actors, and teachers, while providing vocational training for millions more. The Post-9/ 11 GI Bill is designed to provide a similar higher education incentive for more than two million service members who have served since September 11, 2001.
The Post-9/ 11 GI Bill is designed to cover tuition and fees for in-state public undergraduate higher education for eligible veterans. For private institutions, graduate education, and out-of-state tuition, institutions may enter into an agreement with the VA whereby the VA will match institutional contributions to cover additional costs. The Post-9/11 GI Bill also provides a monthly housing stipend and an annual book stipend. Legislation passed in late 2010 expanded eligibility for the benefit to an additional 85,000 members of the National Guard and reserves and enhanced...